Game device.



v' G. H. PARKER.

GAME DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 6. 1918.

Pafefited Jan 14, 2 SHEETS-SHEET INVENTOR B 5% AAA M ATTURIVEKS e; H. PARKER.

GAME DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 191a.

Patented Jan. 14,1919

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS S AES ATENT OFFICE.

GEORGEHENRY PARKER, 0F STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO CHRISTINE RAF]? PARKER, OE STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

GAME nEvIcE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

j Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

Application filed April 6, 1918. Serial No. 226,974.

This invention relates to game devices, and more partlcularly to such devices wherein manual skill may be exercised.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a novel and attractive game device which may be made indifierent sizes and styles to meet varying tastes and which affords an entertaining diversion while allowing the exercise of skill.

Other objects and advantages will be in part noted hereinafter in connection with the following description of the accompanying drawing, which illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention, and in which Figure 1 is a side view of the game device;

Fig. 2 is a plan 'view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the same, with certain parts lacking, and showing the capability of rocking movement of a part in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is a view of balls to be used with the device,'and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown a base or support 1 rectangular in shape and having side flanges 2,

a lower end flange 3 and an upper end wall 4. A rectangular table member 5 is pivotally mounted, at the middle of its ends, to the ends of the base 1. For this purpose a supporting bracket 6 may be fixed to the base flange 3 and a pivot bolt 7 provided; through the end wall 4. As indicated, the table 5 is arranged at a lon itudinal inclination or slant downwardly rom end wall 4, and is also preferably provided with side flanges 8 and a lower endfiange 9, leaving the upper end of the table, however, flush and disposed contiguous to or in close proximity with the upright wall 4 at the upper end of the base.

The base 1 further has associated therewith ball-holding pockets at its upper end which, in the embodiment illustrated, comprise a pair of channeled recesses 10 in wall rocking axis of the latter.

moreover, are so positioned as to be partially 1 table.

4 and opening laterally, at 11, toward table 5, but on opposite sides of the longitudinal Openings 11,

and operatively closed by the upper end of the table when the latter is in substantially horizontal position. That is to say, a plurality of balls 12 (Fig. 4) may be inserted in channels 10 and are prevented from egress through openings 11 by the upper edge of the table 5 when the latter is substantially horizontal transversely. The table 5 may be tilted about its axi by hand so that the full area of either opening 11 may be ex posed, whereupon one or more of the balls in ,the corresponding pocket 10 may roll out on the upperencl of the table and begin their rolling course'toward the lower end of the same.

At the lower end of the device a goal pocket 13 is provided and may comprise a space between rounded blocks 14 fixed in the lower corners of table 5. i

It is the object of the game to effect sequential passage of the ball 12' from the pockets 10 to pocket 13, and such passage is permitted by delicate rocking manipulation of table 5 transversely of its pivotalaxis to allow egress of the balls one at a time from the holding pockets 10 and thereafter to guide the same in their rolling movement downward. To make the passage of the balls more difiicult, the upper surfaceof the table is provided with means which afford a plurality of tortuous runways orchannels for the balls in their downward course. A preferred means for this purpose comprises impedimenta, as a plurality of metal staples or wickets, 15 arranged in fixed predetermined relation on the table below the point where it receives the balls, against which the balls 12 roll and bound in their consequently retarded course toward the lower end of the The table i furtherprovided with other impedimenta, as a plurality of apertures 16 leading therethrough and arranged in predetermined relation in communication with the runways or channels between wickets 15. These apertures areof a dimension whereby the balls 12 may pass therethrough and consequently be prevented from reaching goal pocket 13. Y i

In operation, the desirednumber of balls, for instance, three on each side, are inserted in the channels 10, while their egress is prevented by table 5 in horizontal position.

-Thereupon the table is rocked manually to effect discharge of a single ball from one of the openings onto the higher part and its course against wickets and along thechannels therebetween controlled by further rocking manipulation. The axis of the table course toward goal pocket 13, avoiding aperis arranged with respect to openings 11 so that egress of balls from the latter is prevented-during acertain range of rockingmovement of the table, but is permitted by an excess movement of the latter in either direction, Consequently, the effort to insure egress of the balls from the holding pockets 10 one by one and to guide the same in their tures 16, and at the same time limiting the rocking position of the table to its rangein which further balls will not be discharged upon the table, requires agility and skill as well as constituting an interesting diversion.

" a table or other level support. 25

the base. There is further preferably provided a peaked or ridged member 17 extending longitudinally on the base and slant- ,ing downward toward the edge flanges 2 of the latter, whereby those balls which drop through apertures 16 are carried to the sides ...of the base and roll backward toward the end 'wall 4 to a position where they may be readily reached for redisposal in pockets 10.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could bemade without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is in-- tended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the I invention,-'which, as a. matter; of language,

1 might be said to fall therebetween.

claimas new .Having described my invention, What I p and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z 1. A game device including, in combination, a stationary support having spaced 'ball-holdin'g pockets associated therewith,

anda tiltable table on said support having a limited rocln'ng movement controllable by hand, said table having a range of position wherein the,sa1ne prevents egress of balls from any of said pockets and having a further range of position wherein egress of balls from predetermined pockets is permitted,

said table further having a ball-receiving goal pocket and a plurality of spaced pockets to divert the balls from said goal pocket, said goal and diverting pockets being interconnected by tortuous ways with said h0ld-. ing pockets, said support and table being being further so arranged that controlled movement of the latter to effect sequential passage of the balls to said goal pocket is possible.

2. A game device including, in combination, astationary support and a pair of spaced ball-holding pockets associated therewith; and an inclined table on said support having a limited rocking movement about a longitudinal axis;- said table, when substantially horizontal on its axis, operatively closing said ball-holding pockets and, when rocked, opening one or the other of said pockets; said table further having a ballreceiving goal pocket at its lower end and a plurality of other pockets in its. length to receive and divert balls in their course toward said goal pocket, said goal and divert-' ing pockets being. interconnected by tortuous ways with said holding pockets.

3. In a game device, in combination, a longitudinally inclined table pivotally supported at its ends for limited rocking movement by hand, a pair of stationary ball pockets'associated with said table adjacent its upperend and so arrangedv and positioned on opposite sides of the axis of movement of the latter as to be simultaneously or al-' said goal pocket, said parts and openings being so arranged and disposed as to permit rocking manipulation of said table to effect passage of balls from said first pockets to said goal pocket,

4. A game device including, in combination, a stationary support, a longitudinally inclined table pivoted at its' ends to said support to rock about a longitudinal axis, a pair of ball pockets associated with said support on op'posite sides of the axis of movement of said table, said pockets opening on the upper end of said table and being arranged for simultaneous or alterna- .110 and thereby prevent the same from reaching tive closure by the latter in accordance with itsrocked position, a goal pocket associated with the lower end of said table, means affording a plurality '.of ball channels from the upper end of said table to said goal posed to certain of -sa1d channels whereby the balls may be prevented from reaching.

said goal pocket. 1

5. In a game device, in combination, a longitudinally inclined'table pivotally supported at its ends for limited rocking movement by hand, a pair of stationary ball pockets associated with said table adjacent its upper end and so arranged and positioned on opposite sides of the axis ofmovement of the latter as or alternately closed by said table whereby the egress of balls from said pockets to the upper end of said table may be manually.

controlled by the rocking movement of the latter, a plurality of spaced resilient wickets fixed on said table in predetermined relation to afford a plurality of runways there; between for the balls in their passage down said table, and a goal pocket associated with said tableadjacent its lower end to receive the balls, said table having openings therein disposed in certain of said runways to re? ceive the balls and thereby prevent the same from reaching'said goal pocket, said parts and openings being so arranged and posed as to permit rocking manipulation of said table to efiect sequential passage of balls from said first pockets to said goal pocket. i 1 v v 6. A game device, including, in combination, a stationary base, clined table pivotally supported medially at its ends on said support, and'a stationary ball-holding pocket associated with i said base and havin a ball exit opened and closed by said ta le in accordance with the rocked position of theflatter.

7. A game device, tion, a stationary base, clined table pivotally its ends on said support and having a limited rocking movement with respect to a longitudinally inthe latter, and a stationary ball-holding the latter.

,a longitudinally inincluding, in combinasupported medially at pocket associated with said base and having a ball ex1t opened and closed by said table in accordance with the rocked position of '8. A game device,'including, in combination, a stationary base, a longitudinally in- "clined table pivotally supported medially at its ends on said support and having a limited rocking movement with respect to the latter, a stationary ball-holding pocket associated with said base and having a ball exit opened and closed by said table in accordance with the rockedposition of the to be slmultaneously latter, and a goal pocket associated with the lower end of said table.

9. A game device, including, in combina tion, a longitudinally inclined table, means supporting the table and permitting it to be rocked transversely, means havlng exit opening adapted to deliver balls to said table at'the higher part of said table, said table having ball impedimenta below the point where it receives said balls, said exit opening being adapted to be operatively opened and closed by movements of said table. I

10. A gamedevice, including, in combination, a longitudinally inclined table, means supporting the table and permitting it to be rocked transversely, means having two exit table havingball impedimenta below the point where it receives saidballs, said exit openings being adapted to be operatively opened and-closed by movements of said table, and being so disposed that one is adapted to be operatively opened and the other simultaneously operatively closed, and vice-versa, by rocking movements of said table. v

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. p

GEORGE HENRY PARKER. Witnesses: 9

FLORENCE M. KARP, HAR'oLD S. WIsDoM. 

